Between 2000 and 2006, several hundred children in Finland had serious adverse reactions from the vaccine, including osteitis and osteomyelitis, disseminated (usually fatal) BCG infection, arthritis, and lymph node abscesses.
To resolve the issue, Sweden discontinued mass BCG vaccinations to newborns, and Finland switched to a different strain.
Severe adverse effects were noticed in the media already in the spring of 2003, and on 27 May 2003, a grandmother also working in the medical trade called for the discontinuation of vaccinations.
[4] However, these continued as before, and representatives from the National Public Health Institute of Finland as well an expert group set by NPHI responded on 3 June 2003 that there was no need to change the recommendation concerning vaccinations.
[6] While the National Public Health Institute of Finland was prepared to let the vaccine be administered to all newborns until the beginning of 2008, mass inoculations were discontinued on 1 September 2006 after a draft report by the Finnish Lung Health Association (Filha ry), which clearly stated that the vaccine does more harm than good for that specific population.